Steve Alexander

Offseason Beat

Pre-draft Trip Around the NBA

Jeremy Lin’s knee is a pretty big concern (to me) and I am not targeting him in most leagues. There are enough point guards out there that Lin and the uncertainty surrounding him are not a priority for me. But if and when he’s fully healthy, he should be a quality point guard. Kevin Martin looks like he’s officially out of Kevin McHale’s doghouse and is worth a mid-round look in all drafts, while Chandler Parson and Carlos Delfino are likely to share time at SF. I like Delfino and his ability to hit 3-pointers a little more than Parsons. Patrick Patterson (quad) should be considered a sleeper at power forward and will be available at the end of your draft, while Omer Asik had a great preseason, making him worth a look as a late-round center. Just beware of his free throw percentage, as it’s ugly. Donatas Motiejunas is the deep-sleeper in Houston, but will only succeed if Asik fails.

Indiana

In my mind, George Hill (hip) is the starter at point guard for the Pacers, with D.J. Augustin backing him up. Hill should be one of the last remaining starting point guards available in your draft and is worth a pick up if you need a PG late. Augustin is worth a late-round flier, especially if Hill’s hip injury lingers. Paul George might be ready to take over the world at SG and should be targeted as soon as the third round rolls around. Danny Granger’s sore knee has me very leery and I’m staying away this year. I expect David West to bounce back at power forward, and Roy Hibbert should be a solid No. 1 center again. Gerald Green is the deep sleeper in Indy, but will likely need Granger to miss games in order to see enough minutes. Don’t be surprised if it happens.

Clippers

Chris Paul is ready to rock and roll after thumb surgery and is worth the third or fourth pick in all drafts. Jamal Crawford has been great in the preseason and is one of my favorite guys to draft late. Chauncey Billups is still recovering from his Achilles injury and I just don’t think he has much left in the tank, while Crawford won’t hurt you anywhere, will hit a ton of threes and shoots lights out from the free throw line. I’m targeting Crawford in all leagues. Small forward is a bit of a black hole here, with Caron Butler, Grant Hill (knee), Lamar Odom (conditioning) and Matt Barnes all competing for minutes. Butler should be a good player to own and will be available late, but he’s not usually a model of health, either. Blake Griffin is your starting power forward, as usual, but his lack of blocks and steals, combined with his terrible free throw shooting means ‘stay away’ in my book. His name is bigger than his game, and I’d recommend letting someone else pay for him. DeAndre Jordan has been great in the preseason and his stock is on the rise. His free throw shooting is still abysmal, but he’ll be available late and should rack up plenty of boards and blocks, with the occasional double-digit scoring line.

Lakers

Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard make up the Lakers’ all-star starting five. Kobe’s foot injury is a bit of a concern, but I’d be shocked if he’s not out there on opening night. MWP has looked good in the preseason, but I’m still not drafting him (terrible shooting, disappears too often). Nash isn’t going to score a lot, but will still be a solid No. 1 point guard, while Howard’s back doesn’t appear to be a big concern going forward. The real question is, do you want to deal with his turnovers and free throw shooting in a fantasy league? Gasol’s numbers almost have to take a hit, but he’ll still be a rock-solid fantasy power forward, as usual. Jodie Meeks and Antawn Jamison are the bench guys to keep a close eye on, but neither looks like they need to be drafted in 12-team leagues.

Memphis

Mike Conley is a very consistent point guard and is a great pick once the big names are off the board. He’ll have to contend with Jerryd Bayless this season, although I’m not worried. Tony Allen is the best shooting guard option with O.J. Mayo now in Dallas, but I’m not a fan of his lack of offense. But he should be solid in most defensive categories and hold the starting job. Rudy Gay is going in the third or fourth round in most drafts, but I think he’s going to return second-round value. Feel free to take a flier on him a little early. Zach Randolph is healthy and ready to go at power forward, but I get the sense he’s due to take a step backwards, and is another guy I’m not really targeting in my drafts. This could be the year he turns back into the Z-Bo we used to know. Marc Gasol should surpass his brother this season as the best Gasol to own. I don’t really see a super-sleeper in Memphis, but Josh Selby could be a nice grab for the second half of the season if Tony Allen falls out of favor.

Miami

Mario Chalmers has been hurt for most of the preseason, but should be worth owning in most leagues once he’s healthy. Norris Cole has talent, but appears to be Chalmers’ back up until further notice. I owned Dwyane Wade in many leagues last year and don’t own him in any this year. His knee has me scared and his missed games simply take a toll on his owners. When healthy, he’s obviously first-round talent, but I’m letting someone else deal with him and his surgically-repaired knee this year. Shane Battier is likely starting at SF for the Heat this season, but just doesn’t do enough to be worth a draft pick. LeBron James is worth the No. 1 pick in all formats, while Chris Bosh should start at center and be a solid use of a third- or fourth-round pick. Ray Allen is worth a very late pick if you need 3-pointers, while Rashard Lewis will be worth keeping an eye on in case he ever gets hot off the Heat bench.

Milwaukee

Brandon Jennings didn’t miss a game last year and averaged 19 points per game. His field goal percentage is a concern, but I am guessing he takes a step forward this season, and am targeting him in most leagues – especially ones that use a Points scoring format. Monta Ellis isn’t the same player in Milwaukee that he was in Golden State, but is still a great offensive player. Don’t be afraid to draft him. Tobias Harris is my favorite to start at small forward (over Mike Dunleavy) and he’s had a nice preseason, highlighted by 18 points and three 3-pointers in just 17 minutes on Thursday. I am a fan of using the last pick of your draft on Harris and seeing what happens. Ersan Ilyasova will start at power forward and does it all. If you can get him in Round 4, do it and don’t look back. Samuel Dalembert had six blocked shots on Thursday and appears to be ready to bounce back after dealing with Kevin McHale in Houston last year. He’ll be available late and will help make up blocked shots if you draft a guy like Brook Lopez early.

Minnesota

Ricky Rubio is possibly going to miss half the season and doesn’t shoot it well enough to be a highly sought after stash, in my opinion. Luke Ridnour, who is dealing with back problems, and is no spring chicken, will have value while Rubio is out. Brandon Roy’s return from a chronic knee injury is going well so far, but don’t reach for him. He should be available late, and owners have to be prepared to let him go if the party comes to an end. But for now, he looks like a decent starting SG option. Andrei Kirilenko should be great while Kevin Love is out with a broken hand, and should also start even when Love is healthy. AK may slide over to PF in Love’s absence, with Chase Budinger likely to see a boost in playing time at small forward. Budinger’s a borderline last draft pick in 12-team leagues. Nikola Pekovic is probably my favorite center to draft this year, available in the middle rounds (6) and capable of putting up numbers worthy of a third-round pick. And as much as I’d like to think Derrick Williams will break out, Rick Adelman doesn’t seem to have much use for him, and Budinger is probably a better way to spend your last pick.

New Orleans

Greivis Vasquez is the only PG option in New Orleans, yet is still falling very late in drafts. If you need a point guard late, taking him or George Hill should result in a steal. Eric Gordon is on my “do not draft” list, regardless of what good things you read about him. If he plays in 10 straight games and appears to be ready to keep going, I may change my mind. But I’m prepared to let someone else deal with that headache. Al-Farouq Aminu hasn’t had a good career and I don’t expect him to turn it around anytime soon. And when you add in the fact they could start Ryan Anderson at small forward, Aminu’s simply not worth owning. Anderson should hit a ton of threes and board well again if he starts at small forward, and I’m not sure the Hornets even have a choice at this point. Anthony Davis is going to require a third- or fourth-round pick if you want him, even though his shot blocking hasn’t been great in the preseason. He’s worth the risk of an early pick, any way you slice it. Robin Lopez looks like the starting center, but might go undrafted in deeper leagues. If he’s on waivers after your draft, put him on your watch list, as I see him as a value center pick at the end of drafts. Austin Rivers is another guy to keep a close eye on, but I don’t see a reason to draft him in 12-team leagues just yet, as his role is undefined. He’s also dealing with a sprained ankle that has him questionable for the season opener.

As promised, here is a not-so-quick trip around the NBA. My apologies for the lack of stats, but you can simply click on each player to see his latest news blurb. Had I done any more research, this would have probably finished around the middle of Week 1.

Josh Smith is the big man to own in ATL and he’s going anywhere from No. 4 to No. 10 in fantasy drafts. I like him at No. 5 or 6 in most, but his free throw percentage is a bit of a bummer. Lou Williams should score a lot off the bench, Jeff Teague is a value point guard and Al Horford is a nice PF/C combo (and slightly banged up/calf). We still don’t know who’s starting at SG & SF, but I’m not racing out to draft Kyle Korver, Devin Harris or DeShawn Stevenson, regardless of who wins the job.

Boston

Jason Terry is available late in drafts and is in great shape. I am targeting him in most leagues (and not Courtney Lee), unlike in the past, when he required an earlier draft pick than this year. Terry could be both the starting shooting guard and backup point guard for the C’s. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are ready to roll, and Rajon Rondo, despite the lack of scoring, threes and poor percentages, is still a top point guard option. Brandon Bass appears to have his hands full with rookie Jared Sullinger, but I still think Bass is the starter. Jeff Green has had an amazing preseason and is generating some Sixth Man of the Year buzz. I’m not sure he’ll be that great in the regular season with Pierce in his way, but less minutes for Pierce would be a good thing for the Celtics.

Brooklyn

Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries and Brook Lopez are all locked and loaded into the starting lineup, and all are expected to be solid fantasy players. Lopez has been quite impressive in the preseason, actually rebounding the ball, and his stock is rapidly climbing. Johnson and Wallace could be on the verge of canceling other out, while Humphries will have to keep his rear-view mirror focused on Andray Blatche. Blatche and MarShon Brooks probably qualify as the sleepers on this team, but neither is worth drafting in most leagues at this point. But an injury to a starter could make either player immediately valuable. As for Lopez, I’m planning on owning him a lot and not making as much fun of his rebounding this year. We’ll see if he plays along.

Charlotte

Byron Mullens hit two more 3-pointers on Thursday and looks like he’s primed for a fun fantasy season. If you need boards, blocks, threes and some points late in your draft, don’t hesitate to take him. Tyrus Thomas will back him up, but as long as Mullens is healthy, forget about Thomas. Kemba Walker is playing well and is locked in as the starting point guard, but his field goal percentage will be dreadful. However, Ramon Sessions will also play plenty of point guard, which is a concern for both players (timeshare). Some combination of Gerald Henderson, Sessions and Ben Gordon is going to play shooting guard. Gordon may start, but that’s just a guess. I’m not drafting Henderson anywhere this year, as all he seems capable of is scoring 13 points and not doing much else. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist hasn’t exactly torn it up this preseason and I think he’s being drafted higher than he should be. I’m staying away at this point. And while Bismack Biyombo is going to block some shots again this season, I just don’t trust him, and would much rather draft a player like Glen Davis, Samuel Dalembert or Mullens instead.

Chicago

Let me just throw it out there. If Derrick Rose (knee surgery) plays more than 15 games I’ll be surprised and I also think there’s a 50 percent chance he won’t play in a single regular-season game, therefore I see no point in drafting him. Kirk Hinrich (minor groin injury) should be a serviceable PG available in the last few rounds of your draft, while the front line of Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng should all see a boost in scoring with Rose out. Nate Robinson is the deep sleeper here, along with Jimmy Butler, while I trust Richard Hamilton no farther than I can throw him. If Hamilton is MIA again, look for Butler to emerge. Taj Gibson is a decent way to use a late-round flier, but make sure there’s not a better option out there when you draft him. He’ll be highly frustrating to own as long as Noah and Boozer are healthy. Mullens or Jae Crowder could end up being better picks in the end.

Cleveland

C.J. Miles vs. Alonzo Gee is the big position battle here at small forward, and while Miles appears to have won the fight, I’m still taking Gee to win the war. Both players are worth a look in your draft, but not until you’re nearing the end. I see Tristan Thompson having a breakout year at power forward, while Anderson Varejao hopes to pick up where he left off last year. He had 14 double-doubles in 25 games before being shut down with a broken wrist last year. Kyrie Irving is going to be asked to carry the team on his shoulders this year, and he just might do it. Irving just had all four of his wisdom teeth removed and is questionable for opening night. While I wouldn’t bet my house on it, I am pretty sure he’s going to play in that one. Rookie Dion Waiters hasn’t gotten off to a great start, but should be a good player by the end of the year. But he’s still not on my target list in drafts this year.

Dallas

There’s plenty of news coming out of Dallas these days. Darren Collison, in my opinion, is locked, loaded and ready to bounce back in Big D. And you won’t have to spend a high draft pick on him. O.J. Mayo is going to score a ton of points, hit a lot of threes and be very fun to own this year, after being corralled on the Memphis bench over the last few seasons. I am not targeting Shawn Marion given that it’s 2012, while little known Jae Crowder is now one of the most popular sleepers out there. The rookie has hit double figures in five straight preseason games and is bombing 3-pointers. Don’t target him early, but if you find yourself at the end of your draft wanting to take a sleeper with upside, Crowder might be a good pick – at least until Dirk Nowitzki returns from his knee surgery in a few weeks. Elton Brand suddenly looks like a great pick with Nowitzki out and Chris Kaman (calf) iffy for opening night. And Brandan Wright (minor ankle injury) is going to get some nice run, making him a deep sleeper for now. Delonte West is basically being kicked off the team, which should promote Roddy Beaubois to backup point guard. Roddy B’s value took a jump today, but I’m still not ready to draft him in standard 12-team leagues. Just keep an eye on him. And in case you’re wondering about Vince Carter, I see no reason to draft the big-named role player at this point.

Denver

Ty Lawson is the starting point guard, but Andre Iguodala is an assist-machine, leaving me slightly worried about Lawson’s dimes. And when I say slightly, I mean that Lawson is still one of the league’s top point guard options in fantasy. Iguodala will be playing SG and looking to score more, while the boards, assists, threes and steals will still be there. He feels undervalued to me and I would not be surprised to see him easily return solid second-round value. Danilo Gallinari is great, but I don’t trust him much due to his injury history, and am not going out of my way to get him. If and when he goes down, Wilson Chandler (who is coming off hip surgery) is going to be a popular pickup in all leagues. Kenneth Faried should be a beast at power forward this year and I’m a fan of owning him. The Nuggets have a three-headed center with JaVale McGee, Timofey Mozgov and Kosta Koufos all likely to see minutes from night to night. McGee is still the best of the bunch, but no longer looks like a top center option, simply because he’s not guaranteed more than 20 minutes a night. Having said that, he should still block a ton of shots and could win George Karl over at some point this season. I don’t see a super-sleeper in Denver, but Anthony Randolph will at least be worth keeping an eye on, as usual.

Detroit

Point guard Brandon Knight should take a step forward this season and will be available after the big names are gone. I like the idea of targeting him and Darren Collison later in drafts if you don’t get your point guards early. Rodney Stuckey should start at shooting guard and is a sleeper based on his low ADP, while Tayshaun Prince should start at SF for Detroit. Both Prince and Stuckey should be available late in your draft, and while they’re not guaranteed to be great fantasy players, they should at least be serviceable. Jonas Jerebko and Jason Maxiell are the power forward options for the Pistons, but neither is a must-own in fantasy, while Greg Monroe is an up-and-coming center. I’d like him a lot more if he blocked some shots, but that’s just not his thing. Maybe Corey Maggette is worth keeping an eye on, but he’s already injured and will probably stay that way for most of the year.

Golden State

Stephen Curry is the textbook definition of risk vs. reward and his right ankle, made of Cool Ranch Doritos, is already a huge concern. I’m fine with owning Curry this year, but am not really comfortable gambling on him until the fourth round, and he’ll likely be gone by then. But if he can stay healthy and play in 70 games or so, he should easily flirt with first-round value. Klay Thompson is one of my favorite players to draft this year and should have a big season with lots of 3-pointers and other goodies, and is uncontested at SG. Small forward is another story, as rookie Harrison Barnes, Brandon Rush and Richard Jefferson are all going to see minutes there. I like Rush as the starter, but this has timeshare written all over it, so temper your expectations on all of them. David Lee is going to have another big year and Andrew Bogut should be a solid center once he’s finally healthy after a broken ankle last year. He’ll be available late and should be owned in all leagues, but beware of his terrible free throw shooting. If Bogut and Curry are injured throughout the season, Festus Ezeli and Jarrett Jack are going to be the guys you’ll want to add in their place.

Houston

Jeremy Lin’s knee is a pretty big concern (to me) and I am not targeting him in most leagues. There are enough point guards out there that Lin and the uncertainty surrounding him are not a priority for me. But if and when he’s fully healthy, he should be a quality point guard. Kevin Martin looks like he’s officially out of Kevin McHale’s doghouse and is worth a mid-round look in all drafts, while Chandler Parson and Carlos Delfino are likely to share time at SF. I like Delfino and his ability to hit 3-pointers a little more than Parsons. Patrick Patterson (quad) should be considered a sleeper at power forward and will be available at the end of your draft, while Omer Asik had a great preseason, making him worth a look as a late-round center. Just beware of his free throw percentage, as it’s ugly. Donatas Motiejunas is the deep-sleeper in Houston, but will only succeed if Asik fails.

Indiana

In my mind, George Hill (hip) is the starter at point guard for the Pacers, with D.J. Augustin backing him up. Hill should be one of the last remaining starting point guards available in your draft and is worth a pick up if you need a PG late. Augustin is worth a late-round flier, especially if Hill’s hip injury lingers. Paul George might be ready to take over the world at SG and should be targeted as soon as the third round rolls around. Danny Granger’s sore knee has me very leery and I’m staying away this year. I expect David West to bounce back at power forward, and Roy Hibbert should be a solid No. 1 center again. Gerald Green is the deep sleeper in Indy, but will likely need Granger to miss games in order to see enough minutes. Don’t be surprised if it happens.

Clippers

Chris Paul is ready to rock and roll after thumb surgery and is worth the third or fourth pick in all drafts. Jamal Crawford has been great in the preseason and is one of my favorite guys to draft late. Chauncey Billups is still recovering from his Achilles injury and I just don’t think he has much left in the tank, while Crawford won’t hurt you anywhere, will hit a ton of threes and shoots lights out from the free throw line. I’m targeting Crawford in all leagues. Small forward is a bit of a black hole here, with Caron Butler, Grant Hill (knee), Lamar Odom (conditioning) and Matt Barnes all competing for minutes. Butler should be a good player to own and will be available late, but he’s not usually a model of health, either. Blake Griffin is your starting power forward, as usual, but his lack of blocks and steals, combined with his terrible free throw shooting means ‘stay away’ in my book. His name is bigger than his game, and I’d recommend letting someone else pay for him. DeAndre Jordan has been great in the preseason and his stock is on the rise. His free throw shooting is still abysmal, but he’ll be available late and should rack up plenty of boards and blocks, with the occasional double-digit scoring line.

Lakers

Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard make up the Lakers’ all-star starting five. Kobe’s foot injury is a bit of a concern, but I’d be shocked if he’s not out there on opening night. MWP has looked good in the preseason, but I’m still not drafting him (terrible shooting, disappears too often). Nash isn’t going to score a lot, but will still be a solid No. 1 point guard, while Howard’s back doesn’t appear to be a big concern going forward. The real question is, do you want to deal with his turnovers and free throw shooting in a fantasy league? Gasol’s numbers almost have to take a hit, but he’ll still be a rock-solid fantasy power forward, as usual. Jodie Meeks and Antawn Jamison are the bench guys to keep a close eye on, but neither looks like they need to be drafted in 12-team leagues.

Memphis

Mike Conley is a very consistent point guard and is a great pick once the big names are off the board. He’ll have to contend with Jerryd Bayless this season, although I’m not worried. Tony Allen is the best shooting guard option with O.J. Mayo now in Dallas, but I’m not a fan of his lack of offense. But he should be solid in most defensive categories and hold the starting job. Rudy Gay is going in the third or fourth round in most drafts, but I think he’s going to return second-round value. Feel free to take a flier on him a little early. Zach Randolph is healthy and ready to go at power forward, but I get the sense he’s due to take a step backwards, and is another guy I’m not really targeting in my drafts. This could be the year he turns back into the Z-Bo we used to know. Marc Gasol should surpass his brother this season as the best Gasol to own. I don’t really see a super-sleeper in Memphis, but Josh Selby could be a nice grab for the second half of the season if Tony Allen falls out of favor.

Miami

Mario Chalmers has been hurt for most of the preseason, but should be worth owning in most leagues once he’s healthy. Norris Cole has talent, but appears to be Chalmers’ back up until further notice. I owned Dwyane Wade in many leagues last year and don’t own him in any this year. His knee has me scared and his missed games simply take a toll on his owners. When healthy, he’s obviously first-round talent, but I’m letting someone else deal with him and his surgically-repaired knee this year. Shane Battier is likely starting at SF for the Heat this season, but just doesn’t do enough to be worth a draft pick. LeBron James is worth the No. 1 pick in all formats, while Chris Bosh should start at center and be a solid use of a third- or fourth-round pick. Ray Allen is worth a very late pick if you need 3-pointers, while Rashard Lewis will be worth keeping an eye on in case he ever gets hot off the Heat bench.

Milwaukee

Brandon Jennings didn’t miss a game last year and averaged 19 points per game. His field goal percentage is a concern, but I am guessing he takes a step forward this season, and am targeting him in most leagues – especially ones that use a Points scoring format. Monta Ellis isn’t the same player in Milwaukee that he was in Golden State, but is still a great offensive player. Don’t be afraid to draft him. Tobias Harris is my favorite to start at small forward (over Mike Dunleavy) and he’s had a nice preseason, highlighted by 18 points and three 3-pointers in just 17 minutes on Thursday. I am a fan of using the last pick of your draft on Harris and seeing what happens. Ersan Ilyasova will start at power forward and does it all. If you can get him in Round 4, do it and don’t look back. Samuel Dalembert had six blocked shots on Thursday and appears to be ready to bounce back after dealing with Kevin McHale in Houston last year. He’ll be available late and will help make up blocked shots if you draft a guy like Brook Lopez early.

Minnesota

Ricky Rubio is possibly going to miss half the season and doesn’t shoot it well enough to be a highly sought after stash, in my opinion. Luke Ridnour, who is dealing with back problems, and is no spring chicken, will have value while Rubio is out. Brandon Roy’s return from a chronic knee injury is going well so far, but don’t reach for him. He should be available late, and owners have to be prepared to let him go if the party comes to an end. But for now, he looks like a decent starting SG option. Andrei Kirilenko should be great while Kevin Love is out with a broken hand, and should also start even when Love is healthy. AK may slide over to PF in Love’s absence, with Chase Budinger likely to see a boost in playing time at small forward. Budinger’s a borderline last draft pick in 12-team leagues. Nikola Pekovic is probably my favorite center to draft this year, available in the middle rounds (6) and capable of putting up numbers worthy of a third-round pick. And as much as I’d like to think Derrick Williams will break out, Rick Adelman doesn’t seem to have much use for him, and Budinger is probably a better way to spend your last pick.

New Orleans

Greivis Vasquez is the only PG option in New Orleans, yet is still falling very late in drafts. If you need a point guard late, taking him or George Hill should result in a steal. Eric Gordon is on my “do not draft” list, regardless of what good things you read about him. If he plays in 10 straight games and appears to be ready to keep going, I may change my mind. But I’m prepared to let someone else deal with that headache. Al-Farouq Aminu hasn’t had a good career and I don’t expect him to turn it around anytime soon. And when you add in the fact they could start Ryan Anderson at small forward, Aminu’s simply not worth owning. Anderson should hit a ton of threes and board well again if he starts at small forward, and I’m not sure the Hornets even have a choice at this point. Anthony Davis is going to require a third- or fourth-round pick if you want him, even though his shot blocking hasn’t been great in the preseason. He’s worth the risk of an early pick, any way you slice it. Robin Lopez looks like the starting center, but might go undrafted in deeper leagues. If he’s on waivers after your draft, put him on your watch list, as I see him as a value center pick at the end of drafts. Austin Rivers is another guy to keep a close eye on, but I don’t see a reason to draft him in 12-team leagues just yet, as his role is undefined. He’s also dealing with a sprained ankle that has him questionable for the season opener.

New York

Raymond Felton is starting at PG and available in the middle rounds of all drafts. He’s in great shape and happy in New York, as well as playing with a chip on his shoulder. Value pick! The Knicks SG position is a mess, as J.R. Smith is coming off the bench and Ronnie Brewer is starting. Target Smith (coming off an Achilles injury) after the middle rounds and ignore Brewer. Carmelo Anthony should have a big year and the Knicks have a perfect fantasy playoff schedule, giving him a boost in H2H playoff leagues. He was highly frustrating to own last year, but I don’t see that happening again. Power forward is a mess for the Knicks right now, as Amare Stoudemire, Marcus Camby and Rasheed Wallace are all hurt, making Chris Copeland the likely starter on opening night. If you need a big man with your final pick, he might be worth a short-term add. Tyson Chandler appears to have avoided a serious knee injury, but is also not a lock to start on opening night. If he’s out, Kurt Thomas will start at C. And starting or not, I see no reason to draft Thomas. As for Stoudemire, this feels like the year he could need some surgical maintenance on his knee and I was staying far away even before this latest injury.

Jameer Nelson is the only real option at point guard and will be available in the middle rounds of your draft. Arron Afflalo has a real chance to breakout at SG, while Hedo Turkoglu could be a late value pick at SF if he can put his game together this year. Gustavo Ayon will miss the start of the season with a thumb injury, while Al Harrington is still not recovered from knee surgery. Glen Davis is another favorite of mine to draft this season, and could lead the team in scoring. Davis should be available in the latter-middle rounds. And with Ayon and Harrington hurting, Nikola Vucevic is now worth a last-round look, although I’d rather own Ayon long term. Power forward Andrew Nicholson is the deep sleeper at power forward, especially with Ayon’s injury.

Philadelphia

Jrue Holiday has looked great in the preseason and is clearly enjoying life without Andre Iguodala around. Treat him as a solid No. 1 point guard option and be ready to draft him in Round 4. Jason Richardson appears to be the starting shooting guard, but has some knee issues, vaulting Dorell Wright into fantasy relevance. Both players will be available late and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Wright emerge as a force for the Sixers, although both are worth drafting in most leagues. Evan Turner is dealing with an ankle injury, but is expected to be ready for the opener and looks like the starting SF. Turner is going in the later-middle rounds and should be poised for a breakout season. Thaddeus Young now looks like a better option than Spencer Hawes at PF, although Hawes could start at center for the first few games of the season as Andrew Bynum recovers from a knee injury. Bynum has a chance to be the No. 1 fantasy center this season, but injury and conditioning concerns are real, and I’ve avoided him in most of my leagues. If you want Bynum, he’ll cost you a second-round pick, and he could miss (at least) the first five games of the season.

Phoenix

Goran Dragic is now a top point guard option and you’ll likely have to take him late in Round 2, or sometime in Round 3, to get him. He should be worth it, if he can stay healthy. I like Jared Dudley, who appears to be unchallenged at SG, late in drafts, as he can hit threes and rebound, while Michael Beasley suddenly looks poised to breakout as the team’s starting small forward. They want Beasley to score and I’m looking forward to watching him work this year. I am targeting Beasley in all leagues, after the middle rounds. Luis Scola is the starting power forward and a top option, despite a lack of blocks, while Marcin Gortat should be targeted as a No. 1 center in Round 3 or 4. Don’t accidentally draft Channing Frye, who is out for the year with a heart problem.

Portland

Damian Lillard is the starting point guard and my pick for Rookie of the Year. He had a great summer and preseason, and looks like a solid choice for your No. 1 point guard after the big names are gone. Wesley Matthews is trending up and should put up solid numbers across the board this year, without costing you a high draft choice. I’ve got him ranked close to Klay Thompson, but he’ll probably go a round later in your draft. Nicolas Batum is primed for a breakout season at SF and should be targeted in Round 3 or 4, LaMarcus Aldridge should be a beast this season (Round 2) and J.J. Hickson should be a serviceable center available late in your draft. Portland’s starting five is about as fantasy-friendly as they come.

Sacramento

Simply put, the Kings are a mess. They are too deep at every position except center and one of the biggest mysteries in fantasy hoops. Isaiah Thomas should be a solid point guard, but he’ll have to deal with Aaron Brooks and Jimmer Fredette, while Marcus Thornton is expected to come off the bench behind Tyreke Evans at SG. That has timeshare written all over it. Small forward will see a timeshare from some combination of James Johnson, John Salmons, Francisco Garcia and Evans, while Jason Thompson will have to battle rookie Thomas Robinson for minutes at PF. DeMarcus Cousins is the lone bright spot here, and should be unchallenged at C. I like Cousins late in Round 1, but if you plan on drafting Evans, Thomas, Thornton or Thompson, expect them to have plenty of off nights to go along with some good ones. Avoid all of them not named Cousins, if you can.

If the Kings end up going with my preferred lineup of PG Thomas, SG Thornton, SF Evans, PF Thompson and C Cousins, things will change for the better, but I’m not sure even coach Keith Smart knows his starting lineup just yet.

Kyle Lowry’s groin injury is behind him for now and he looks like a top PG option, but I’m not crazy about the fact that Jose Calderon is still lingering behind him. I’m a Lowry fan, but don’t fully trust him as long as Calderon is getting 20-25 minutes per game. Landry Fields and DeMar DeRozan look like the starting wings, and both should be available late in your draft. I’m not crazy about either of them, but they should be serviceable. Linas Kleiza should back them both up and could emerge as a popular waiver-wire pickup. Andrea Bargnani will try to stay healthy and bounce back after missing much of last season with a calf injury, but I’m not convinced he’ll play in more than 60 games. He’s still a nice way to blow a later pick in the middle rounds. Jonas Valanciunas is high on my list of sleeper centers, as it appears he’ll either get fouled or dunk every time he gets it in the post. Calderon, Aaron Gray and Kleiza are all sleepers to keep a close eye this season, and if you draft Lowry, taking Calderon as a handcuff makes sense.

Utah

Mo Williams (minor stomach injury) is looking for a bounce-back season and I think it’s coming. He can shoot the three, score and hand out dimes, and should make for a value PG pick in the later-middle rounds. Gordon Hayward should have another nice season at SG, and should make for a safe mid-round selection. I also think Randy Foye is going to get a lot of run at both guard spots, and qualifies as a deep sleeper (but not must-own). Marvin Williams looks like the starting SF, but until he proves himself, I’d rather take a last-round flier on a guy like Trevor Booker or Jae Crowder. Paul Millsap is still in Utah’s starting lineup, and ballin’, which hurts the value of Derrick Favors. Favors is still worth owning, but may only be worth starting in fantasy if Millsap is traded or Al Jefferson gets hurt. If Millsap gets traded at some point, keeping Favors around should pay big dividends. As for Jefferson, I’ve got him as the No. 1 center with Bynum banged up in Philly, so target him late in Round 1 and hope his ankles stay healthy. Everyone seems to be high on C Enes Kanter, but as long as Jefferson, Millsap and Favors are healthy, I am just not feeling Kanter.

Washington

With John Wall out for a few weeks with a knee injury, A.J. Price looks like the starting PG in Washington for now. He might be worth a last-round flier, but I’m not convinced he’s a must-own player, even in the short term. Jordan Crawford and rookie Bradley Beal will man the shooting guard position, and be in a timeshare all season. I’d rather own Beal at this point. Trevor Ariza is your starting SF for now, but Martell Webster and Chris Singleton could give him a run for his money. The bottom line is that Ariza’s shooting is off more than it’s on, but he’s still worth a late flier, while Webster and Singleton should be watched on the waiver wire. With big men like Nene (plantar fasciitis) and Emeka Okafor (bust) shaky, at best, guys like Trevor Booker and Kevin Seraphin (calf) are suddenly impressive sleeper picks. My guess is Jan Vesely will start at power forward, but I’d rather own Booker for now. And with Nene out indefinitely, Seraphin suddenly looks like a must-own player and a great way to spend your final draft pick, as he could easily start at C if healthy.

Steve "Dr. A" Alexander is the senior editor for the NBA for Rotoworld.com and a contributor to NBCSports.com. The 2014-15 NBA season marks his 13th year of covering fantasy hoops for Rotoworld. Follow him on Twitter - @Docktora.Email :Steve Alexander